The NWSL Draft, which should not exist as an entity and needs to be drastically reformed into a signing day, is this Friday, January 12. Because draft hopefuls have until the Monday before the draft to register, and the NWSL’s fax machine is backlogged, a mock draft is damn near impossible.

But we can still use the information we have to spotlight some needs and some players who should be exciting additions to the league. The way this is going to work is I’m going to go team by team, point out a big need, and see if it makes sense for a rookie to fill that role.

angel city fc

The TWEEDAISSANCE was fun as hell to witness toward the end of last season, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Their attacking player with the highest usage rate by far was Savannah McCaskill, who left in free agency to join the Wavé. Some say oh no now there’s a massive hole, some say addition by subtraction. Depending on who Angel City can add to their midfield, I’m inclined to be in the latter camp.

Prayerfully, and if the ancestor’s say it is so, Christen Press will be back. A left side combo of Jun Endo as a winger or left midfielder and M.A. Vignola is gonna be a terror for teams if Tweed can get them to cook together. A #10 with vision and quick passing would energize the attack.

There’s just one teeny weensy, itty bitty, tiiiiny morsel of a problem: Angel City doesn’t pick until midway through the third round. They’re no stranger to massive draft deals, but it will take a lot to move up, particularly with expansion teams who need players more than cash or the promise of future picks in another draft.

(Low key this is a terrific/annoying example of how the draft can hurt player development. We’ll see where she ends up and how she’s used, but Croix Bethune would be an amazing fit with Angel City, and it would be nice if teams could recruit players based on fit rather than draft position.)

bay fc

As of right now Bay FC barely have enough players to get in a good five-a-side. They currently hold picks #2 and #8 overall, but don’t have another pick until #30, which is the third round. It might be worth auctioning of one of their first rounders to stockpile later in the draft.

The #2 pick will certainly be the most valuable, but there’s no reason that pick shouldn’t be used to keep Maya Doms close to home. That 8th pick however, could be traded to stockpile later picks and add depth, or sprint to the podium cackling if Reilyn Turner or Ally Sentnor are still there.

chicago red stars

When your whole midfield leaves during the first free agency period and you don’t really do a whole lot to replace them, well now you should. Chicago let in an outright sinful amount of goals last season, which was a direct result of that midfield problem.

They have the third overall pick and I would be surprised if it was used on any other position. Picking that high gives them options, and their selection could improve based on Utah and Bay FC’s needs. Maya Doms should be on her way to either, but Leilanni Nesbeth would be a terrific addition as well.

houston dash

The Dash were annoying as hell under Sam Laity. They had all the pieces for a fun attack and instead decided nah, we’re just gonna be outrageously boring and focus on defense. Which, to be fair, they were excellent at. Despite missing the playoffs and being three points away from residing at the bottom of the table, they allowed the fewest goals in the league (18; San Diego and North Carolina, 22).

Still, if they do this again I’m gonna cry. Laity is out and they also signed María Sánchez to an extremely lorj deal, so a recommitment to the sauce should be underway. Ironically enough in order to do this they need to focus on positions furthest from goal.

They must find their next DM. Sophie Schmidt had a great year but recently retired from international play and will turn 36 in June. Problem is, DMs are hard to find, and they’re really hard to find in a college draft. Sam Coffey has excelled, but she was converted to the role and given a specific system in which to operate. Hal Hershfelt is probably the best outright DM in the draft and wouldn’t be a solid get.

The Dash could also use an upgrade at CB and a replacement for Caprice Dydasco. Clemson’s Makenna Morris would be awesome if she’s still available, and CBs Macy Bell or Savannah King would be ideal gets as well.

kansas city current

After winning the offseason the Current went on to be downright embarrassing in 2023. Injuries certainly got in the way of all their talent playing, let alone showing what the team could be capable of. Then they went and made it worse by wildin out to for expansion draft protection, kicking out talented midfielder/defender Alex Loera and fullback/wingback Kate Del Fava.

They still have Debinha, Michelle Cooper, Kristen Hamilton and CeCe Kizer to call on in attack, but the Loera move and trading of Morgan Gautrat for an international spot has their midfield looking a bit thin. However, their biggest problem was defense, where they relied on rookies and out of contract signings to fill big spots. The Current only scored one fewer goal than Shield winners San Diego, but conceded 36 (to SD’s 22) and finished 11th.

There’s no clear cut Naomi Girma in this draft, or maybe even Emily Madril. But the Current don’t have a pick until the second round anyway. My guess is they’ll lean on established talent to fill these gaps, and since they just got an international spot maybe Current fans should just focus on getting a good night’s sleep.

nj/ny gotham fc

north carolina courage

The Courage were FUN as hell last year. Kerolin tearing her ACL late marred a very good season and what was becoming an extremely dangerous team. Even if she returns at some point during 2024, the Courage still need to find a way to replace her goals. Especially since they also lost Tess Boade in the expansion draft as well.

North Carolina’s fluid, possession based style of play will provide plenty of opportunities for a player, but they need to be smart with their movement, capable passers themselves, and good at finding those cutback opportunities the Courage feasted on.

Emily Fox is being caught in the background of Arsenal training photos and there are still rumors of Denise O’Sullivan receiving offers from Europe. The Courage did just sign Bianca St. Georges, who would be a quality Emily Fox replacement, though their release referred to her as a forward.

Anyway, the Courage have the 5th, 10th and 24th overall picks, so they could load up on pro ready talent. Sam Meza or Brecken Mozingo would be potential options in midfield, while forward Jaida Thomas and either Makenna Morris or Savannah King are marauding fullbacks who could replace Fox.

orlando pride

The Pride had the best draft of 2023 and much of that talent underscored why throughout the season. Their approach this time might be a bit different, considering they’ve continued to add Brazilians like Infinity Stones. It’s a very good plan, and we love to see it.

But this means there’s likely not as much work to do this time around, and the team can focus more on bolstering certain positions or adding depth. With Rafaelle and Emily Madril looking like a comfortable center back partnership, the Pride should look to defensive midfield and fullback to help support their bevy of brilliant Brazilians (alliteration!).

Hal Hershfelt could be a dope defensive midfield signing, and to be honest I hope she ends up with Orlando somehow. They could use a wrecking ball who just wants to bully the ball away from defenders then offload it as quick as she ca, It’d be a dope fit.

portland thorns

The mini-Portland exodus has been interesting and curious to see. Thankfully, that turd Merritt Paulson finally sold the team, but there’s a lot to do in a transition that large – just ask the Spirit. Or the Red Stars. And soon the Reign. Heavens.

Anyway, they still have Sophia Smith and Sam Coffey, so that’s important. But lost Crystal Dunn, Hannah Betfort, Michelle Vasconcelos, Emily Menges, . And could possibly lose Becky Sauerbrunn, who said she’s interested in testing free agency.

The good news for the Thorns is that, other than Dunn and Menges, no one else played more than 600 minutes for them last season. You’re highly unlikely to replace Crystal Dunn without a #1 overall pick, so depth is probably the best play. This approach also works out perfectly with the picks they possess: three of the first 25, including #11 overall, then only a selection toward the end of the third and fourth round.

rahsing louisville

I’m convinced Louisville have a kink for deciding they don’t need their best attacking players. They unceremoniously booted out Ebony Salmon after she led the team in goals her first season in the NWSL, and this offseason have lost Wang Shuang, Nadia Nadim, Paige Monaghan and South African sparkplug Thembi Kgatlana.

Rahsing scored 23 goals and dished 10 assists in league play last season, and those players were responsible for eight of those goals and four of those assists.

Luckily for Louisville, they have the sixth overall pick and the first and last pick in the second round. With midfielders likely dominating the first 5 picks, they might have a chance to sneak in a top-5 talent like Reilyn Turner or Ally Sentnor.

Either way, one of their second round picks could be used on Payton Linnehan from Penn State. Her college team’s attack was literally ‘fuck it, she up there somewhere’ and Linnehan’s speed and acceleration was enough to make it decently dangerous. Sound familiar? Live your truth.

san diego wavé

Whomst am I to tell Casey Stoney what to do? This is the kinda shit she lives for. It’s what she does. She hand selected Manchester United’s very first team then got them promoted after just one season. She’s travelled 10+ plane hours away to do the same in San Diego, and has.

She’s got it.

seattle reign

Well, OL’s needs got a lot clearer thanks/no thanks to free agency. Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle are off to the land of the bats so this seems an obvious place to start.

However, there’s one miniscule little pesky problem: they currently have just two picks. And not even high picks, their highest is a late second rounder and the other is the first pick in the final round. Eeps.

Losing even more talent to secure more doesn’t seem like the best idea, but the freeing up of some fairly hefty salaries should provide some cash to throw around, and clearly they aren’t afraid to deal future picks so could still tempt their way into a higher second round, maaaaaybe late first.

Either way, midfielders should be their focus. Leilanni Nesbeth from FSU would be a great pick but likely out of their reach, but Bea Franklin is worth packaging picks and making a move should she start to fall.

utah royals

The Royals hold the coveted #1 overall pick but in my humble, complete professional and unbiased opinion: they should trade it. Croix Bethune should be the #1 overall pick but will likely be coveted by a number of teams. For many reasons – one being that damn America First Field – they should not draft Bethune.

Their trade with North Carolina got them Emily Gray and Frankie Tagliaferri, both intriguing attacking midfield talents who are under 25. Plus, their lightest unit is defense, which is currently only four players deep. Like all drafts, attacking/offensive players typically go first, so Utah could add some gems even if they trade down a bit.

Can’t lie, the counter-argument is pretty convincing. Utah have eight (8!) of the first 33 picks. That is a ton. Maybe too many. But it also means trading a higher pick could help secure a star they need. Either way, I would be super surprised if a couple BYU stars didn’t join the Royals.

washington spirit

If you went to FSU and are waiting to be drafted STAY IN LINE.

No but for real. The Spirit need midfielders, and suddenly after trading away Sam Staab for the #3 pick three hours before the draft, they need a left center back, which is one of the hardest positions to fill with a natural left footer. Since trading away Staab for a rookie would be Arkham Asylum-level madness, I’m going to assume they have a different trade or transfer in the works.

Which mean focusing on midfield talent in a deep draft in which they hold picks #3, #7 and #13 in the first round. Luring Jonatan Giráldez from Barcelona signals a complete shift in team identity, even from the 2021 NWSL Championship-winning team. There’s chatter of whether ‘tiki-taka’/Barcelona style can work in the NWSL (let’s also be real, people who incessantly talk about tiki-taka rarely know what it means and just use it as universal code for high possession team that passes a lot), but for any possession-based approach to work you need midfielders.

Sullivan and Sanchez are great pieces to start with, but building it out and finding a box-to-box midfielder will also be key. With three of the first thirteen picks, the Spirit could load up. Leilanni Nesbeth seems to check every box, including the ‘have you played for Florida State before’ one. From there, I’m not sure. Lauren Flynn is another solid player from FSU, and grew up in Arlington, which would provide yet another adorbs hometown kid staying home angle a la Ana Heilferty. But Flynn is a defender, not a midfielder, and shouldn’t be expected to replace Staab straight out of college.